Enough ground equipment to support four Gripens can be carried by a single C-130 Hercules.

The Gripen can be refuled and rearmed in less than 10 minutes.

An airborn time of 60 seconds is possible when on high alert with the APU running, all systems fully avaliable 10 seconds after take off. The F-16 needs 3-4 minutes, and its INS and radar will not be fully avaliable.

Gripen mean time between failures(MTBF) is proven to be 7.6 hours. USAF best MTBF is 4.1 hours.

The Gripen costs less than 2000$ per flight hour.

Airframe life is 8000 hours.

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Gripen Demo will be a heavier aircraft (empty weight adds 300 kg to 8,100 kg, max. takeoff weight rises from 14,000 kg to 16,000 kg) with increased external and internal fuel capacity (internal fuel rises 38%, and…) and an increase from 8 to 10 weapon/fuel pylons. To offset this extra weight, Gripen Demo will use a higher-thrust GE/Volvo F414 engine variant, replacing the GE/Volvo F404 variant in current aircraft and giving the aircraft a 25%-35% power boost. Other improvements include an next-generation AESA radar (probably drawing on Ericsson's "Nora" project), along with improved computing and avionics overall, including satellite communication, Link 16 capability added to the Gripen's existing datalink, and improved electronic warfare via jammer pod integration and other measures. Gripen Demo's corporate participants include Saab

The Gripen's built-in armament consists of a single Mauser BK-27 27 millimeter cannon, housed in a fairing on the aircraft's belly, offset to left to the rear of the engine intake. Given the aircraft's relatively small size, it generally carries guided weapons to ensure maximum combat effectiveness.

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New Features Gripens NG include:

* An electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar based on the PS-05/A, now being developed by Ericsson. An AESA consists of an array of programmable "transmit-receive (TR)" modules that can operate in parallel to perform separate or collaborative functions, performing, for example, jamming and target acquisition at the same time. The AESA will provide enhanced multimode capabilities, as well as extended range for beyond visual range missiles. It is scheduled for introduction in the 2005:2010 timeframe.

* The "OTIS" infrared search and track (IRST) system now under development by Saab Dynamics and being tested on a Viggen. OTIS will provide multiple modes for both air to air and air to ground combat.

* The Thales "Guardian" helmet-mounted display (HMT), now being evaluated on the Gripen for cueing the IRIS-T and other smart weapons.

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The Gripen's digital architecture makes software upgrades straightforward, at least as such things go. Possible software improvements include new radar and datalink modes; a new terrain-referenced navigation system; and a fully autonomous precision landing-guidance system. In the long term, SAAB is looking at a new engine, such as the General Electric F414 or a thrust-vectoring version of the EJ2000 engine used on the Eurofighter; conformal fuel tanks or a fuselage stretch for greater range; a wide-angle HUD; a binocular helmet-mounted display; a direct voice-command system; and an advanced missions support system.

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The Swedish Tactical Flight Combat Suit has been developed by FMV (The Swedish Defence Material Administration) and is mainly made by Swedish companies.

The requirements for the TFCS are:

9 G sustained with high onset rate, at least 30 s after 6 G/s and at least 7 G after a gradual (0.1 G/s) onset without anti-G straining manoeuvre

Biological and chemical warfare protection

High altitude protection, including explosive decompression

Arctic climate and cold water survival

High temperatures (fire) protection both in cockpit and on the ground

Air blast protection for ejection speeds up to 600 kt

Thermal protection

-----------------------------------------The aircraft is controlled by a digital fly-by-wire (FBW) system with triple redundancy and an analog backup. The analog backup system provides a simple, reliable capability, and is automatically activated if two of the three digital FBW systems go down. The pilot can also activate the analog system with the push of a button. The Gripen was designed from the outset to use the FBW system, which was evaluated on a modified Viggen. The FBW system compensates automatically for the degree of instability built into the Gripen to increase its maneuverability. The FBW system also allows the aircraft to adapt to combat damage, for example using differential control of the canards to fly the aircraft if the ailerons are disabled.

"The Gripen pilot can switch operational role in flight."

TIDLS (datalink)One Gripen can provide radar sensing for four of its colleagues, allowing a single fighter to track a target, while the others use the data for a stealthy attack. TIDLS also permits multiple fighters to quickly and accurately lock onto a target's track through triangulation from several radars; or allows one fighter to jam a target while another tracks it; or allows multiple fighters to use different radar frequencies collaboratively to "burn through" jamming transmissions. TIDLS also gives the Gripen transparent access to the SAAB-Ericsson 340B Erieye "mini-AWACs" aircraft, as well as the overall ground command and control system. This system provides Sweden with an impressive defensive capability at a cost that, though still high, is less than that of comparable systems elsewhere.

TIDLS can connect up to four aircraft in a full-time two-way link. It has a range of 500 km and is highly resistant to jamming; almost the only way to jam the system is to position a jammer aircraft directly between the two communicating Gripens. Its basic modes include the ability to display the position, bearing, and speed of all four aircraft in a formation, including basic status information such as fuel and weapons state. The TIDLS is fundamentally different from broadcast-style links like Link 16. It serves fewer users but links them more closely together, exchanging much more data, and operating much closer to real time.

TIDLS information, along with radar, EW, and mapping data, appears on the central MFD. The display reflects complete sensor fusion: a target that is being tracked by multiple sources is one target on the screen. Detailed symbols distinguish between friendlies, hostiles, and unidentified targets and show who has targeted whom.

Today, Sweden is the only country that is flying with a link of this kind.The Flygvapnet has already proven some of the tactical advantages of the link, including the ability to spread the formation over a much wider area. Visual contact between the fighters is no longer necessary, because the datalink shows the position of each aircraft. Leader and wingman roles are different: the pilot in the best position makes the attack, and the fact that he has targeted the enemy is immediately communicated to the three other aircraft.

A basic use of the datalink is "silent attack." An adversary may be aware that he is being tracked by a fighter radar that is outside missile range. He may not be aware that another, closer fighter is receiving that tracking data and is preparing for a missile launch without using its own radar. After launch, the shooter can break and escape, while the other fighter continues to pass tracking data to the missile. In tests, Gripen pilots have learned that this makes it possible to delay using the AMRAAM's active seeker until it is too late for the target to respond.

But the use of the link goes beyond this, towards what the Swedish Air Force calls "samverkan," or close-cooperation. One example is the use of the Ericsson PS-05/A radar with TIDLS. An Ericsson paper compares its application, with identical sensors and precise knowledge of the location of both platforms, to human twins: "Communication is possible without explaining everything."

"Radar-samverkan," the Ericsson paper suggests, equips the formation with a super-radar of extraordinary capabilities. The PS-05/A can operate in passive mode, as a sensitive receiver with high directional accuracy (due to its large antenna). Two PS-05/As can exchange information by datalink and locate the target by triangulation. The target's signals will often identify it as well.

The datalink results in better tracking. Usually, three plots (echoes) are needed to track a target in track-while-scan mode. The datalink allows the radars to share plots, not just tracks, so even if none of the aircraft in a formation gets enough plots on its own to track the target, they may do so collectively.

Each radar plot includes Doppler velocity, which provides the individual aircraft with range-rate data. However, this data on its own does not yield the velocity of the target. Using the TIDLS, two fighters can take simultaneous range-rate readings and thereby determine the target's track instantly, reducing the need for radar transmission.

In ECM applications, one fighter can search, while the wingman simultaneously focuses jamming on the same target, using the radar. This makes it very difficult for the target to intercept or jam the radar that is tracking him. Another anti-jamming technique is for all four radars to illuminate the same target simultaneously at different frequencies.

----------------------------------STOLThe Gripen can take off and land in less than 600 meters (2,000 feet). Once deployed to a road base, the Gripens are serviced by a ground crew of six, including one highly trained specialist and five minimally trained conscripts. A service team can refuel and rearm a Gripen in ten minutes. The Gripen features an auxiliary power unit (APU) to reduce its dependence on ground systems, and the fighter's onboard digital systems include "built-in self-test" capabilities that can download diagnostic data to a tech's laptop computer. Service doors to critical systems are at head level or lower, allowing easy access by technicians. Pilots using the Gripen flight simulators have performed simulated carrier landings, without an arresting hook; it seems a bit unlikely that this will ever be done in practice, however.

The operational cost of Gripen is 50 per cent lower than any other aircraft in its class that is currently, or planned to be, in service. It is twice as reliable and easier to maintain than its competitors.

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On a CAP 385km from base, a Gripen can stay on station for two hours carrying 2X AMRAAM, 2X AIM-9 and 2X droptanks.

When carrying 3X 1000lbs GBU-16 on a LO-LO-LO strike profile, the Gripen has a mission radius of 648km. With 2X GBU-16's and extra fuel tanks radius increases to 833km.

Ferry range is 3500km according to Col Jan Jonsson of the Swedish Air Warfare Center.

The Gripen can accelerate from M 0,5 to M 1,1 in 30 seconds.

The Gripen can sustain M 1,1 using dry thrust, while carrying a droptank and AAM's.supercuise

The Gripen can operate from 800m long and 9m wide roadstrips. Take off and landing distances can be down to 400-350 meters.

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radar (JAS-39): 20% longer than RDY (M2000-5), and 40% longer than the AN/APG-68 for F-16C/D Block40/42.

7. While combating with the basic type of MIG-29 (MIG-29G??) in BVR engagement:

* JAS-39A: the effective range for Gripen to detect MIG-29 is 60 km longer than the effective range for MIG-29 to detect Gripen.

* F-16C/D: the effective range for Falcon to detect MIG-29 is 5 km longer than the effective range for MIG-29 to detect Falcon.

8. Maintenance of GRIPEN:* The MTBF for JAS-39A is 7.6 flight hours, and the SAAB declared that the MTBF for the

USAF?s frontline fighters (except F/A-22 perhaps) is no more than 4.1 flight hours.

* The man hours of maintenance for each flight-hour: 12 man-hours initially, than reduced to 10 man-hours (F/A-18 E/F: 15 man hours of maintenance for each flight-hour).

* The charge for each flight-hour: 2,500 USD initially, than reduced to 2,000 USD.

Netcentric Fighter – A truly Network Centric new generationmulti-role fighter with the world’s most highly developedsecure and multi-frequency data link, providing total situationawareness for the pilot in all roles.

See First - Kill First – A combination of low radar, IR andvisual signatures, along with the long range PS05 multimoderadar and sensor fusion, including world leading newgeneration weapon integration, ensure a high kill ratio inlong range engagements.

High Operational Tempo – Gripen’s high operational availability,rapid turnaround and minimal support requirements lead tosustained high sortie rates giving Commanders the ability tomeet the most demanding operations with minimum resources.Affordability – Gripen achieves the lowest operating cost ofany fighter currently in operational service. This is accomplishedby combining advanced system design, high technology, moderncomponents and the highly reliable Volvo RM12 engine.

Future development – Gripen is built to be adaptable tochanging threats and operational requirements that a modernair force faces. Gripen has significant growth available andmany features are implemented in software. This means thatmodifications are much easier to design and implement. Inmost cases costly hardware changes can be avoided.

The purpose of the deployment was to enable the Gripen pilots to operate Gripen´s advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems and hone their skills in a dynamic environment. During the operational missions, which took place over a week, the pilots performed Close Air Support missions and executed air-to-ground attacks against targets defended by simulated surface-to-air missile systems.During these attacks, the pilots took full advantage of Gripen’s superior EW-systems using both passive and active counter measures, including the dispensing of chaff and flares against hostile threats. In addition to these missions, the Gripen pilots also flew daily dissimilar air combat missions against the American F-15 Eagles.All missions were carried out in a special training area at the RAF Spadeadam base. The SwAF Gripen deployment to the UK was also the first of such exercises between the Swedish Air Force and the US Air Force in Europhe Gripens flew as part of the hostile ‘Red Force’, largely conducting beyond visual range air battles with the ‘Blue Force’. Colonel Kilian recalls, “We flew 24 sorties over the two-week exercise, and we launched every day with our two planned Gripen Ds. We were the only participants to have a 100% operational record with the scheduled aircraft.”

“In Hungary we just don’t have large numbers of aircraft to train with, but in Spring Flag we faced COMAO (combined air operations) packages of 20, 25 or 30 aircraft. The training value for us was to work with that many aircraft on our radar – and even with our limited experience we could see that the Gripen radar is fantastic. We would see the others at long ranges, we could discriminate all the individual aircraft even in tight formations and using extended modes. The jamming had almost no effect on us – and that surprised a lot of people.”

“Other aircraft couldn’t see us – not on radar, not visually – and we had no jammers of our own with us. We got one Fox 2 kill on a F-16 who turned in between our two jets but never saw the second guy and it was a perfect shot.”

“Our weapons and tactics were limited by Red Force rules, and in an exercise like this the Red Force is always supposed to die, but even without our AMRAAMs and data links we got eight or 10 kills, including a Typhoon. Often we had no AWACS or radar support of any kind, just our regular onboard sensors – but flying like that, ‘free hunting’, we got three kills in one afternoon. It was a pretty goodexperience for our first time out.”

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Gripen is one of the world's best light weight multi role combat aircraft in production.Gripen is designed for the high demands put on flying performance, flexibility, effectiveness, survivability and availability the future air combat environment will put.The designation JAS stands for Jakt (Fighter), Attack (Attack) and Spaning (Reconnaissance) and means every Gripen can fullfill all three mission types.Flying properties and performance are optimised for fighter missions with high demands on speed, acceleration and turning performance. The combination of delta wing and canards gives the JAS 39 Gripen very good take off and landing performance and superb flying characteristics.The totally integrated avionics makes it a "programmable" aircraft. With the built in flexibility and development potential the whole JAS 39 Gripen system will retain and enhance its effectiveness and potential well into the 21st century.

//air-attack

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Sweden has a long tradition of building excellent high-performance fighters with a distinctive look. The JAS-39 Gripen (Griffon) is built as one of the world`s first 4+ generation fighters. It remains the only 4+ generation entry in the lightweight fighter type, its performance and operational economics are both world-class.The Gripen is an excellent aircraft by all accounts, with attractive flyaway costs and performance, and very attractive lifetime operational costs. A wide variety of international equipment has successfully been tested and integrated with the aircraft including sensors, targeting pods (the LITENING III) and an array of weapons, most recently the MBDA Meteor long-range ramjet air-air missile.

//main-plump

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The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is the first new-generation multi-role/swing-role fighter to enter service worldwide and combines high performance, outstanding maneuverability and fully integrated information and weapons systems for all air combat situations.Offering an unrivaled mix of simplicity and sophistication to defeat all present and future threats, it is the world’s most capable and cost-effective combat aircraft in operation today.

// military-heat

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Gripen is the first of the new generation, multi-role combat aircraft to enter service. Using the latest available technology it is capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air and air-to-surface operational missions and employs the latest weapons.With the ability to switch operational roles in-flight, at the touch of a button, the Gripen fighter can meet the increasingly demanding multi-role requirements of the future battlefield.The Gripen weapon system delivers total confidence in air defense and air superiority, with deadly close-in combat skills. At the same time, it possesses formidable offensive air support, anti-ship, reconnaissance and advanced tactical training capabilities.A fully fused and integrated data flow, processed by all-digital systems, gives Gripen the power, intelligence and agility to fight the 'information war' - for the pilot as well as the commander - to the maximum operational effect.Gripen incorporates the world's most developed datalink, which increases situation awareness and combat effectiveness while shortening the sensor-to-shooter loop to near real-time.Gripen provides high performance, outstanding maneuverability and fully integrated information and weapon systems for all air combat situations.An unrivalled blend of simplicity and sophistication balances aircraft, sensor and weapons performance in combination with datalink, data fusion and an advanced human-machine interface to give outstanding situation awareness and unrivalled multi-role mission effectiveness.A superior cockpit environment is built around the 'don't need, don't show' principle, that guarantees the pilot all the decision support needed for complex tactical operations, without the distraction of superfluous data.Gripen is a truly international weapon system incorporating the latest technology from a team of major defense industries. As the newest generation of fighter, it has been designed to maintain operational superiority against present and future threats by providing spare system capacity to incorporate new sensors, avionics and weapons with ease.The advanced design combined with a funded continuous technology insertion program, covering all major sensors, avionics, data communication, propulsion and self-protection systems, ensures Gripen will grow ahead of future threats to maintain and improve its operational superiority.Superior air-to-air combat capability at beyond visual range (BVR) is achieved through a combination of aircraft performance, modern sensor systems, the world´s most developed in-service tactical datalink and the capability to launch advanced active-radar BVR missiles. When combined with an inherent low-visual, low-radar and low infrared signature, this gives Gripen a decisive combat advantage over its competitors.Proven high availability, good maintainability and low support requirements allow a Gripen force to generate more sorties than any other aircraft in its class or, alternatively, to achieve the same level of operational tasking but with a smaller force.The operational cost of Gripen is 50 per cent lower than any other aircraft in its class that is currently, or planned to be, in service. It is twice as reliable and easier to maintain than its competitors.Gripen carries all the necessary weapons to meet today´s operational requirements and to enable full co-operation with friendly forces.Its advanced weapon system enables future new-generation weapons to be easily integrated, countering tomorrow´s threats and meeting the needs of your nation.

//world defence industry--------------------------------

Saab is launching its plans for a new Gripen Demonstrator programme in partnership with some of the world’s leading aerospace companies. "This programme will keep Gripen at the leading edge well beyond 2040"

// world defence

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Gripen is and will remain one of the most advanced fighters ever entered serivce. well beyond 2040.

ATM Gripen have been the most successful new generation aircraft on the export market, with 5 countries, operates Gripen today. and UK flight pilot school.---------------------------------------------------------------ps.Ericcson, have developed avionics and radars for over 50 years, they have over 30 countries as customers, they already got AESA in their AWAC:S ERIEYE system.Saab is recognized as one of the best earospace cooperations in the world, and they have build some of the best aircrafts in history who´re world recognized, like VIGGEN, DRAKEN, TUNNAN and LANSEN.

Sources:neutral military papers (look above)gripen (webapage)

i´ve not manipulated any sentences.i´ve used foreign sources, to avoid swedish influence.

i´ve never said or try to say Gripen is superior than others.The purpse with this Blogg/page is to give the Gripen the recognition it deserves.

If you're interrested to follow the development of Gripen NG you may do so on www.militaryphotos.net Gripen news Thread.